Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 55

अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”

Devanagari script

प्रसन्ना च तदा गंगा प्रसन्नश्च शिवस्तदा । उभौ तौ च स्थितौ तत्र यत्रासीदृषिसत्तमः

Transliteration

prasannā ca tadā gaṃgā prasannaśca śivastadā | ubhau tau ca sthitau tatra yatrāsīdṛṣisattamaḥ

Translation

其时，恒河女神亦安宁慈和，湿婆也心生欢喜。二者同住于彼处，正是那位最胜仙人所在之地。

Word by Word

• prasannā: pleased
• prasannā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to gaṃgā)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• gaṃgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṃgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṃgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to śivaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (to tau)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sthitau: stood/remained
• sthitau: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (विधेय/अवस्था)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) from √स्था; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/यद्वाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: अस् (to be)

• ṛṣi-sattamaḥ: the best sage
• ṛṣi-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ऋषिः सत्तमः (best of sages); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva’s pleasure (prasannatā) stabilizes the sacred geography: Gaṅgā becomes calm and both remain at the sage’s place—typical of tīrtha ‘settling’ narratives that explain enduring sanctity.

Significance: Assures pilgrims that the deity’s and Gaṅgā’s continued presence makes the site perpetually efficacious for purification and relief.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gauri

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Rishi (foremost sage)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights prasāda (divine graciousness): when Śiva is pleased, even the sacred powers like Gaṅgā become calm and beneficent, indicating harmony between the Lord (Pati) and the purifying divine current that uplifts the soul.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It points to Saguna Śiva’s responsive grace—Śiva becomes ‘prasanna’ through devotion and right approach; in Jyotirliṅga-tīrtha contexts, the devotee seeks that same pleased presence of Śiva that sanctifies the place and grants blessings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Śiva-prasāda through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with tīrtha-smaraṇa (remembrance of sacred places) and a calm, sattvic mind—approaching worship so that inner ‘Gaṅgā’ (purity) becomes serene.